Counting devices

ABSTRACT

Devices for counting paper money, food stamps, and the like which include a cyclically operable counting head designed to displace seriatim succeeding items in a stack of items to be counted and a register which is advanced during each cycle of operation of the counting head to provide a count of the items in the stack.

United States Patent 1 Young 1 Jan. 16, 1973 [54] COUNTING DEVICES [75] inventor: Robert D. Young, Accord, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Canyon Research Corporation, Ac-

cord, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 91,361

[52] [1.8. CI. ..235/98 R, 271/21 [51] Int. Cl. ..B61l l/l6, G06m 7/00 [58] Field of Search..235/98 R, 98 B, 92 PK; 271/36,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Briggs ..271 21 12/1916 Chenery ..27l/2l 3,214,096 10/1965 Buchholz ct a1. ..235/98 R FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 239,888 10/1911 Germany ..235/98 R 1,288,345 l/1969 Germany ..235/98 R Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal Att0rneyStrauch, Nolan, Neale, Nies & Kurz [57] ABSTRACT Devices for counting paper money, food stamps, and the like which include a cyclically operable counting head designed to displace seriatim succeeding items in a stack of items to be counted and a register which is advanced during each cycle of operation of the counting head to provide a count of the items in the stack.

23 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJAmmn 3711.015

sum 1 or 6 INVENTOR ROBERT D. YOUNG ORNEY! PATENTEDJANISIQYS 3,711,015

sum 2 0F 5 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. YOUNG ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAN 16 I973 3,711,015 SHEET 3 [1F 6 F T 28 a I I90 I52 W |44 IN VEN TOR. ROBERT D. YOUNG ATTORNEYS I PATENTEUJAN 16 ms SHEET U BF 6 FIG 4 INVENTOR.

ROBERT 0. YOUNG ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAH 18|9I5 3.711.015

SHEET 5 OF 6 INVENTOR ROBERT 0. YOUNG zh/wztmy COUNTING DEVICES This invention relates to counting devices and, more particularly, to devices for counting the number of items in a stack of paper money, food stamps, or similar items.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide novel, improved devices of the character described in the preceding paragraph.

Devices for counting items of the type with which the present invention is concerned have heretofore been proposed. In general, the prior art devices have included a vacuum pick-up which separates like portions of succeeding items from the stack of items being counted and a register which is advanced as each item is separated to provide a count of the number of items which have been separated. A typical example of this type of counting device is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,241,757 issued Mar. 22, I966, to Uchiyama for PAPER MONEY COUNTING APPARATUS.

Such counters are not used to any significant extent because they are notoriously inaccurate. Bills, food stamps, and similar items often adhere to each other to such an extent that both the item contacted by the vacuum pick-up and the succeeding item will be displaced at one time. As a result, the second item will not be counted, and the count of the items in thestack will not be accurate.

In counting devices according to the present invention this major drawback is eliminated and virtually infallible accuracy insured by use of a novel counter head which first positively engages and deforms the item being counted at one end thereof to insure that the succeeding item does not adhere to it. The counter head then displaces the end of the item; and a register is advanced, completing the cycle.

Furthermore, the item engaging components of the counter head contact only areas of the items which are relatively free from defects; i.e., which are not torn off, dog-cared, folded, etc. This further contributes to the accuracy of the counting operation.

Another novel feature of the present invention is a unique arrangement by which the operator can depress a single lever and simultaneously displace a holddown and the counter head to facilitate the removal of one stack of counted items and insertion of a new stack and, also, declutch the counter head and/or shut off the motor which drives it to prevent the counter head from cycling until insertion of the new stack of items is completed. Yet another feature of the invention is a novel arrangement which automatically terminates the operation of the counter head when the last in a stack of items is counted.

Still another feature of the invention is an arrange- I ment for controlling the counting speed. This for example, permits the operator to adjust the counting speed so that the denomination of currency can be checked as it is counted.

Another advantage of the invention is ease of operation. Alignment of the stack of items relative to the counter head is not critical, and it is not necessary to remove the bands when banded items are being counted. Furthermore, due to the manner in which the ends of the items being counted are displaced, optical scanning devices can be readily employed to check denomination, etc., thereby relieving the operator of even this task.

From the foregoing it is apparent that another primary object of the present invention is the provision of novel devices for counting paper money and the like which do not have the drawbacks of and are therefore improvements on those heretofore proposed.

A related and important object of the invention is the provision of novel, improved devices for counting paper money and the like which are more accurate than those heretofore proposed.

Other important but more specific objects of the invention include the provision of counting devices in accord with the preceding objects:

I. which are characterized by ease of operation, especially in the insertion and removal of stacks of items to be counted.

2. in which the counting sequence is automatically terminated when the last in a stack of items is counted.

3. in which the counting speed can be varied.

4. which employ a novel counting head designed to ensure that two or more items do not stick together and get counted as one.

5. which have various combinations of the foregoing attributes.

Other important objects and features as well as additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of counting apparatus in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the counting apparatus, the cover of the apparatus being broken away to show certain of its internal components;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus with a cover and the counter head of the apparatus removed;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the counting apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the counter head;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the counter head with a holddown member removed;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus which shows the details of a clutch incorporated therein; and

FIGS. 8-10 are fragmentary sections through the counting apparatus, showing the counter head in different stages of its operating cycle.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1-4 depict a counting device or counter 18 constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention. Counter 18 includes a base 20 for supporting a stack 22 of items 23 to be counted, a cyclically operable counter head 24 mounted on the base and drive-connected to a motor 26 by a drive train identified generally by reference character 28 (see FIG. 4), and a register 30 for showing the number of items counted by the counter head. A removable cover 32 surrounds the majority of the components disposed above base 20.

Operation of counting device 18 is controlled by an on-off switch 34, a counting speed regulating control 36, and an arrangement including a microswitch 38 and an actuator 40 for automatically stopping the counting operation when the last item in a stack is counted. Counting device 18 also includes a holddown 42 for the items being counted and a handle or actuator 44 which, when depressed, stops the counting operation and raises the holddown and counter head to facilitate removal of the stack of counted items.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the major components of counter head 24 are a support assembly 46, a pusher mechanism 48, and a pick-up mechanism 49, which includes a rotating pick-up member 50. The pusher mechanism first displaces the ends of the bills or other items being counted to break any seal between the item being counted and the item thereadjacent. The pusher mechanism then deforms the end of the item being counted to form a loop therein.

Pick-up member 50 carries a pick-up member 52 and has a wedgelike portion 54 extending from the pick-up member. As member 50 rotates, pick-up member 52 slides into the loop formed by the pusher mechanism. wedgelike wall portion 54 follows the pick-up member into the loop and separates the end of the item 23 in which the loop is formed from the corresponding end of the item therebeneath.

As best shown in FIG. 6, support assembly 46 includes a vertically extending cylindrical member 56 to which a support member 58 having a flange 60 is attached. A platelike holddown member 62 having an upturned edge portion 63 is fixed to the bottom of member 58 as by screws 64. In the operation of counting device 18, member 62 rests on the stack 22 of items being counted and holds the items 23 down to insure the proper operation of pusher mechanism 48.

A depending pin 66 is fixed to the flange 60 of support member 58 by a fastener 67 (see FIG. 8). Pin 66 extends downwardly from flange 60 through holddown member 62, an aperture 68 in an item support member 70 fastened to the top of base 20, and an aligned aperture (not shown) in the base. This pin keeps support assembly 48 from rotating during operation of counter head 24.

Fixed to or integral with the cylindrical support member 56 of support assembly 46 are a pair of spaced apart support lugs 71 to which pusher mechanism 48 is fixed. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the pusher mechanism includes a generally U-shaped bracket 72 pivotally fixed to support lugs 71 as by setscrews 73 which extend through the legs 74 of the bracket and engage lugs 71. A second pusher member 76 is fixed to bracket 70 as by a pivot member 78. This pivot member extends through member 76 and a tongue 80 on bracket 72 which is fitted into a recess 82 at the rear end of pusher member 76.

Pusher member 76, which extends throughv a notch 83 in holddown member 62, carries an item engaging member 84. This member is adjustably fixed to pusher member 76 as by a screw 86 which extends through a slot 88 in member 84. The lower edge 90 of member 84 is sharpened so that member 84 will stay in engagement with the item 23 being counted as the-loop is formed in the latter (edge 90 may be continuous as illustrated in the drawing, or may be serrated, if desired).

Referring now to FIG. 8, the U-shaped bracket 72 of pusher mechanism 48 is biased in an upwardly or counterclockwise direction relative to support assembly 46 by a spring 94. One endof this spring is hooked over a pin 96 fixed to pusher member 76 and the other over bracket 72. A spring 98 journalled on pivot member 78 biases pusher member 76 downwardly relative to pusher mechanism bracket 72. One end of this spring engages the top of pushermember 76 and the other the bottom side of U-shaped bracket 72.

The final component of the pusher mechanism is a cam follower 100. The cam follower is rotatably mounted on a shaft or pin 102, which is fixed to or integral with and extends upwardly from U-shaped bracket 7 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-7, the remaining component of the counter head is pick-up mechanism 49. The pick-up member 50 of this mechanism is a shell-like structure of circular cross-section having a lower edge 106 adapted to rest on the uppermost item 23 in the stack 22 of items being counted. The inner surface 110 of the side wall 1 12 of the member acts as a stop against which the right-hand end portion 114 of the item being counted as shown in FIG. 8 may be positioned by pusher mechanism 48 to form a loop 116.

As discussed above, pick-up member 50 also carries a pick-up member 52. More specifically, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, pick-up member 52 is fixed to the end of the portion 54 of the member, which has an up wardly inclined surface 120. This gives the wall portion 54 a wedgelike configuration. As counter head 24 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1, pick-up member 52 enters the loop 1 16 formed in the bill or other item being counted. Member 52 is followed by the wedgelike portion 54 of member 50, which displaces the end 114 of the item upwardly until the free end 114 of the item being counted rides on the upper edge of member 50. This separates the end of the item from the like end of the item 23 therebeneath.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 8, member 50 also includes an integral, depending, centrally located boss 122. Formed on the lower edge of boss 122 is a cam 124 which cooperates with cam follower 100. More specifically, as member 50 rotates from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 10, cam 124 acts upon cam follower 100 to operate pusher mechanism 48 first to the position shown in FIG. 8 and then to the position shown in FIG. 9 and finally allows it to return through the position shown in FIG. 10 to the FIG. 1 position under the influence of springs 94 and 98.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8, a bearing 126 extends upwardly through the cylindrical member 56 of support assembly 46. Member 50 is fixed to bearing 126 by a threaded retainer 128 which engages a boss 130 at the top of the member. Retainer 130 is then spot welded or otherwise fixed to boss 130 so that member 50, retainer 128, and bearing 126 rotate as a unit about the member 56 of support assembly 46.

As shown in FIG. 8, bearing 126 terminates in a radial flange 132 at its lower end. This flange engages the lower edge of a recess 134 in support assembly member 58 and couples pick-up mechanism 49 to support assembly 46 while allowing relative rotation between the two.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 8, counter head 24 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on a vertically extending shaft 136. With the counter head mounted on shaft 136, pin 66 keeps support assembly 46 from rotating in the manner described above. Pickup mechanism 49, however, is fixed to shaft 136 for rotation therewith as bya key 138 fitted in cooperating recesses 140 in bearing 126 and 142 in shaft 136.

Shaft 136 extends through holddown member 62, item supporting member 70 and the upper wall 144 of counter device base 20 and is supported from the top wall of the counter base in an appropriate bearing (not shown). This shaft is driven or rotated by motor 26 through the drive train 28 mentioned above. More specifically, motor 26 has an output shaft 148 which extends upwardly through the top wall 144 of base 20. A pulley 150, which is the input member of drive train 28, is fastened to the upper end of shaft 148 for rotation therewith. An endless belt 152 is trained around pulley 150 and around a pulley 154 joumalled on and rotatable about an intermediate shaft 156. Shaft 156 is rotatably supported in any suitable manner from the upper wall 144 of counting device base 20.

Also journalled on and rotatable about shaft 156 is the input member 158 of a clutch 160. Clutch input member 158 is connected in any convenient fashion to pulley 154 for rotation therewith.

Clutch 160 also includes an output member 162 fixed to shaft 156 for rotation therewith and a lug 164 pivotally fixed to clutch member 158 and engagable in a recess 166 in clutch output member 162. With lug 164 engaged in recess 166, pulley 154 drives shaft 156 through clutch input member 158, lug 164, and clutch output member 162.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a sprocket 168 is fixed to the lower end of shaft 156. A cooperating sprocket 170 is fixed to the lower end of counter head shaft 136 for rotation therewith, and a sprocket chain 172 is trained around cooperating sprockets 168 and 170. Accordingly, with motor 26 energized, shaft 136 is rotated through drive train 28 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrows 173 in FIG. 1.

Turning now to FIG. 2, teeth 174 are formed on the upper end of clutch output shaft 156 to provide a gear 175. The teeth of gear 175 mesh with the teeth 176 of a gear 178 fixed to or integral with the input shaft 180 of register 30. This register may be of any desired type, but is preferably equipped with a reset 182 so that the count indicated by the register can be returned to zero after a stack of items or series of stacks has been counted.

With clutch 160 engaged and counter head 24 rotating, shaft 156 drives or rotates register input shaft 180. Counter head 24 separates the end 114 of an'item 23 from stack 22 once in each revolution, and the ratio between gears 175 and 178 is selected so that the count indicated by register 30 will be advanced by a predetermined increment during each revolution of counter head 24. Accordingly, the count indicated by the register will reflect the number of items which have been separated from stack 22 by the counter head.

The holddown 42 by which the items being counted are kept in position on base 20 while their ends 114 are being separated by counter head 24 is pivotally fixed to an elongated lever 184 by a pin 186 which extends through the forward end of the lever and a boss 188 on holddown 42. From holddown 42 lever 184 extends rearwardly through a slot 187 in cover 32.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end of lever 184 is fixed to a transversely extending rod 190. Rod 190 extends through and is pivotally mounted in brackets 192 and 194 which are fixed in any convient fashion to the bottom side of the top wall 144 of base 20.

A lever 196 extends forwardly from the end of pivot member 190 adjacent bracket 194. Journalled between the forward end of lever 196 and the top wall 144 of base 20 as on a pin 198 is a compression spring 200. Spring 200 biases lever 196 away from the bottom side of the base upper wall. Accordingly, lever 184 and holddown 42 are biased downwardly toward the upper surface of the base top wall as shown in FIG. 2. Spring 200 thereby provides a biasing force to assist in keeping the stack 22 of items 23 properly positioned on supporting member during the counting operation.

Handle or actuator 44 is provided to lift or move holddown 42 away from the supporting surface of member 70 and thereby facilitate the insertion and removal of stacks 22 of items to be counted. Handle 44 is formed integrally on or fixed to the forward end of a lever 202 which extends rearwardly through a slot 204 in the front wall 206 of base 20. The rear end of lever 202 is fixed to or made integral with a transversely extending pivot member 208. The pivot member is journalled in support bracket 192 and in a support bracket 210 fixed to the lower side of base top wall 144 in spaced relation to bracket 192.

Also fixed to or formed integral with shaft 208 is a rearwardly extending member 212 to which a transversely extending shaft 214 is fixed. Journalled on shaft 214 is a follower or roller 216. This follower engages the lever 184 to which holddown 42 is fixed and rotates it upwardly as shown in FIG. 2 when actuator 44 is depressed.

Actuator 44 is maintained in its normal, inoperative position by a spring 218 which surrounds transversely extending shaft 208. One end of spring 218 engages the top side of lever 212. The other end extends through a slot 222 in base top wall 144 and engages the upper sur face of the top wall.

Pivotally journalled in brackets 192 and 194 adjacent pivot member is a second pivot member 224. Fixed to pivot member 224 adjacent one end thereof and extending through a slot 226 in actuator 184 for engagement by roller 216 is a forwardly extending actuator member 228. A second, forwardly extending actuator member 230 is fixed to pivot member 224 at the end thereof adjacent bracket 194. An elongated actuating member or actuator 232 extends from member 230 upwardly through a slot 233 in base top wall 144 and terminates in a loop 234 (see FIG. 3) which abuts the holddown member 62 of counter head 24.

Roller 216 moves upwardly when actuator 44 is depressed as discussed above. The roller engages the forward end of actuator member 228, moving it upwardly and, accordingly, moving member 230 and actuating member 232 in the same direction. Actuator 232 consequently raises counter head 24 when handle 44 is depressed, facilitating the removal of the stack of items which has been counted and its replacement with a new stack. When the lever is subsequently released, spring 218 restores actuator 232 to its inoperative position. This allows the holddown member 62 of counter head 24 to engage the top of the new stack of items to be counted to retain the items in position.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, an actuator 235 including a bushing portion 236 is rotably mounted on pivot member 208 adjacent actuator 212. This actuator also includes a rearwardly extending lever 238 with a transversely extending lug 240 fixed to its free end. Lug 240 is biased against actuator 212 by a spring 242 journalled on pivot shaft 208 between actuators 238 and 212.

When operator 44 is depressed to move actuator 212 upwardly, the rear end of lever 238 also moves upwardly. As this lever moves upwardly, it engages a clutch actuator 244 and pivots the actuator in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 3 against the bias of a spring 246. As the actuator pivots, a vertical flange 247 at its left-hand end moves upwardly, pivoting the drive lug 164 of clutch 160 upwardly out of recess 166. This disengages clutch members 158 and 162 and stops the operation of counter head 24 and register 30 although motor 26 continues to run.

Actuator 244 is pivotally supported from base top wall 144 by a pivot pin 248 which extends through brackets 250 mounted on the base and actuator ears 251. Biasing spring 246 is disposed between an elongated actuator arm 252 and the top wall 144 of counter base and is retained in place as by a pin 253.

While the illustrated type of clutch is not essential, it is preferred. Irrespective of when handle 44 is depressed, the clutch input and output members are not disengaged until the input member 158 rotates to the position where actuator flange 247 engages and unlatches lug 164. Accordingly, it can be insured that the clutch always disengages at the end of the operating cycle, even if handle 44 is depressed at an intermediate point of the cycle.

As lever 44 is depressed past the point where clutch 160 disengages, clutch actuator 244 pivots further in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 3. This causes the contacts of microswitch 38, which is mounted on actuator arm 252, to open, interrupting the flow of current to motor 26 and stopping the motor.

The operation of counter head 24 and/or motor 26 can be terminated any time during the counting operation by depressing lever 44 in the manner just described. In addition, the operation of counter head 24 is automatically terminated after the last item 23 in a stack 22 is counted by the actuator 40 referred to above. More specifically, actuator 40 is pivotally supported in a bracket 260 fixed to the lower surface of counting device base top wall 144. A finger-like portion 262 of the actuator extends upwardly through a slot 264 in base top wall 144 into the path of rotation of counter head pick-up member 50. Finger 262 is engagable by a loop member 266 which is fixed to the inner surface 110 of the side wall 112 of member 50 by bracket 268 and positioned by guides 270 and 272.

Until the last of a stack of items is counted, actuator 40 is covered and held down by the end portion 114 of at least one item 23. However, as the last item is counted, its end portion 114 is separated from support member 70, exposing actuator 40 for engagement by loop 266. As counter head 24 rotates, loop 166 engages and rocks actuator toward the front of the counting device as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a depending cam portion 274 is formed on actuator 40. As actuator finger 262 is rocked forwardly, cam portion 274 depresses lever 202; and clutch 160 is disengaged in the same fashion as when handle 44 is depressed to automatically stop the counting operation.

It is to be understood, of course, that the mechanism just described is by no means the only one which can be employed to automatically stop the counting operation after the last item in a stack is counted. Alternatively, a different type of mechanism such as one activated by a photocell may be employed, if desired.

To summarize the operation of the novel counting device 18 just described, the first step in counting the number of items 23 in a stack 22 is to depress operator 44. This lifts counter head 24 and holddown 42 away from the item supporting surface of member 70, permitting a stack 22 of items to be slid onto this surface under the holddown and holddown member 62 of the counter head. Handle 44 is then released, lowering holddown 42 and holddown member 62 onto the top item 23 in the stack. The weight of the counter head and holddown together with he biasing force exerted by spring 218 keep the items properly positioned during the subsequent counting operation.

With the stack 22 of items 23 positioned on member 70, switch 34 is moved to the on position to energize motor 26. The motor accordingly rotates shaft 136 and counter head pickup assembly 50 in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 1 through the drive train 28 discussed above (FIG. 1 shows counter head 24 in its rest or initial position). As member 50 of pickup mechanism 49 begins to rotate, cam 124 depresses cam follower 100. This operates bracket 72 of pusher mechanism 48 and pusher member 76 from their initial or rest positions shown in FIG. 1 first to the positions shown in FIG. 8 and then to those shown in FIG. 9. As this occurs, the sharpened edge on member 84 engages the edge portion 114 of the top item 22 and then pushes this edge portion in the direction shown by arrow 276 toward the inner surface of pick-up member wall 112 to form the loop 116. The movement of the two pusher mechanism members is such that the sharpened edge 90 is first engaged with the item 23 at a relatively steep angle to set the edge. Thereafter, little downward force is exerted on pusher member 84, the latter moving generally parallel to stack 22. The net result is a shoveling action of the pusher mechanism in forming the loops 116 in items 23.

It is important to the satisfactory operation of countering device 18 that the loops 116 always be formed in the same place and with the same configuration. This is assured by the novel pusher mechanism 48 and by the cooperation of the latter with pick-up member 50 in the manner discussed above.

As counter head 24 continues to rotate, the pickup member 52 of pick-up mechanism 49 slides into the loop 116 formed in the item 23 being counted. Continued rotation forces the end 114 of the item up the inclined upper surface of pick-up mechanism member 50 until end 114 rests on the upper edge portion 278 of this member as shown in FIG. 8. At the same time, cam 124 allows springs 94 and 98 to retract the members 84 and 72 of the pusher mechanism through the positions shown in FIG. 10 to those shown in FIG. 1 as shown by arrow 280 in FIG. 10. As this occurs, the item engaging edge 90 of member 84 wipes across the end portion 114 of the item being counted with a honing action. This automatically keeps edge 90 sharp so that it will properly engage items 23 in subsequent counting cycles.

A small pad 282 of a resilient material having a relatively high coefficient of friction is preferably mounted on support member 70 in the path of edge 90. This pad keeps edge 90 from damaging member 70 and vice versa. It also helps to keep the free ends 114 of the last few items in each stack in place as they are counted.

As counter head rotates, register input shaft 180 is driven through the arrangement described above, advancing the count shown by register 30 to reflect the number of items which have been counted. As an alternative, a down counter may be substituted for register 30 and used to stop the operation of counter head and/or motor 26 when the desired number of items have been counted.

Separation of the end portion 114 of the last item. 23 from the supporting surface of member 70 by pick-up mechanism 50 exposes actuator 40 for engagement by the loop 266 carried by the pick-up mechanism. The latter accordingly trips actuator 40, depressing lever 202 to the extent required to disengage clutch members 158 and 162 and stop the operation of the counter head. The operator thereafter depresses handle 44, raising counter head 24 and holddown 42 and shutting off motor 26 by opening the contacts of microswitch 38. The stack of counted'items is then removed and replaced with a new stack. Register 30 is reset, if desired; and operating handle 44 is released to close the contacts of switch 38, re-engage the clutch input and output members, and lower holddown 42 and counter head 24 to their operational positions. The counting operation proceeds automatically from this point.

As mentioned above, the counting operation can be stopped at any point without releasing the stack of items being counted. This is accomplished by depressing operator 44 only to the extent necessary to disengage clutch 160 without raising lever 184 or counter head 24.

. As indicated above, the speed at which counter head 24 cycles can be controlled by speed control 36. This control is typically a conventional variable resistance wired in series with motor 26. Since numerous satisfactory motor speed controls are commercially available, it is not believed necessary to describe this component of counting device l8'further herein.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable mechanism comprising co-operating first and second means both engageable with each succeeding item in said stack for forming a loop of the same size and at the same location in the topmost and each succeeding one of the items in said stack and means insertable into said loop to separate said one end of said item from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, together with means for adjusting the rate of operation of said cyclically operable mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, together with means automatically operable when the last item in the stack is counted to terminate the operation of said cyclically operable mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, together with a means which can be manually actuated to terminate the operation of said cyclically operable mechanism while stacks of items are being disposed on or removed from the means for supporting the stack of items to be counted. Y

5. The apparatus of claim 4, together with means for operating said cyclically operable mechanism comprising an electric motor and wherein the means for terminating the operation of the cyclically operable mechanism comprises a normally closed switch connected in series with said motor and a switch actuating means operable to open said switch and interrupt the supply of power to said motor.

6. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof comprising a base; means thereon for supporting the stack of items to be counted; holddown means movable toward and away from said base for keeping the stack of items being counted on said supporting means; a cyclically operable counter head for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like portion of the last item in the stack from said supporting means, said counter head being mounted on and movable toward and away from said base; drive means for said counter head; a register; means for advancing the count shown by said register in each operating cycle of said counter head; selectively operable means for displacing said holddown means and said counter head away from said base to thereby facilitate the removal of said stack of items from said supporting means; and means concomitantly activatable by the operation of said selectively operable means to interrupt the operation of the counter head drive means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said counter head drive means includes a clutch having an actuator pivotally fixed tosaid base and including means for pivotally supporting said holddown from said base and elevating it relative to said base and a member engageable with said counter head, said selectively operable means including a member pivotally fixed to said base, a first means carried by said last-mentioned member for pivoting the holddown supporting means and elevating the counter head engageable member to thereby displace said holddown means and said counter head away from said base, and a second means carried by said pivotally mounted member for so pivoting the clutch actuator as to effect disengagement of said clutch.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, together with means automatically operable after the last item in the stack is counted to pivot said clutch actuator as aforesaid and thereby effect the disengagement of the clutch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said automatically operable means includes a member pivotally supported from said base and means operable in response to pivotal movement of said member to pivot said actuator and disengage the clutch, said counter. head comprising means for engaging and pivoting said member to thereby effect disengagement of the clutch.

10. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable, nonpneumatic counter head means for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like portion of the last item in the stack from said stack supporting means, one of said separations being effected in each operating cycle thereof; a register; means for advancing the count shown by said register in each operating cycle of said counter head means; a holddown means for keeping the stack of items being counted properly positioned on said supporting means;

a manual actuator; and means operable as said actuator is displaced from a first position to a second position to displace said holddown means and said counter head means away from said supporting means and thereby facilitate the disposal of a stack of items on or the removal of a stack of items from said supporting means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, together with means operable as said manual actuator is displaced from said first position to a position intermediate said first and second positions to terminate the operation of the counter head means without disturbing the position of the holddown means and the counter head means, whereby the operation of the counter head means can be stopped without reducing the holding effect exerted by said holddown means and said counter head means.

12. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable, counter head means for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like portion of the last item in the stack from said stack supporting means, said counter head means including a non rotatable support means; an extensible pusher means pivotally fixed at one end to said support means, there being means engageable with the item being counted at the other end of said pusher means; and rotatably mounted means including a cam member which is operable as said means rotates to pivot said pusher means relative to said support means to first engage said item engageable means with the item being counted and thereafter extend said pusher means to displace the engaged portion of the item and thereby form said loop, said rotatably mounted means further including a pickup means insertable into the loop formed by said pusher means to displace said end of said item and thereby effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, together with resilient biasing means for restoring said pusher means to an unextended configuration following the insertion of the pickup means in the loop.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, where said pusher means comprises a first member pivotally fixed to said support means; a second member pivotally fixed to said first member; a first means biasing said first member toward said support means; and a second means biasing said second member toward said first member.

15. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like-portion of the last item in the stack from said stack supporting means, said counter mechanism including a first means engageable with the top item in the stack of items being counted to form a loop in said item at a location spaced from one end thereof and a second means thereafter insertable into said loop to so displace said one end of said item as to effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted or said supporting means, said second means comprising a rotatable member and means mounting said rotatable member for rotation about a vertical axis, the rotatable member having an arcuate wall portion terminating in an end portion insertable in the loop formed in the item being counted and said arcuate wall portion tapering upwardly whereby, as said member rotates relative to the item being counted, said arcuate wall portion will displace the end of the item in which the loop is formed upwardly to separate said end as aforesaid; and means for enumerating the number of ends separated as aforesaid.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said arcuate wall portion has a lower edge engageable with the item in which the loop is being formed to fix said item against movement at said one end thereof, whereby the loops will be formed at the same location relative to said one end thereof in each succeeding one of said items.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said counter mechanism further includes a non-rotatable support means; wherein said first of said counter mechanism means comprises an extensible pusher means pivotally fixed at one end to said support means and means engageable with the item being counted at the other end of said pusher means; and wherein said counter mechanism also includes cam means operable as the rotatable member of said counter mechanism rotates to pivot said pusher means relative to said support means to first engage said item engageable means with the item being counted and to then extend said pusher means to displace the engaged portion of the item toward the location where said item is fixed against movement by said rotatable member and thereby form said loop.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, where said pusher means comprises a first member pivotally fixed to said support means; a second member pivotally fixed to said first member; a first means biasing said first member toward said support means; and a second means biasing said second member toward said first member, whereby, as it is extended, said pusher means will first move downwardly and toward said aforesaid location to engage said top item and then toward said location at a lesser inclination to thereby reduce the pressure exerted on said item by said item engageable means to thereby reduce the tendency of items below said top item to be moved toward said location with said top item.

19. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism comprising means engageable with successive items in said stack at a location removed from one end of the stack to fix each said item against movement at said location, means for displacing said one end of each item so fixed against movement toward said location to thereby form a loop in the item, and means insertable into each said loop to separate said one end of the item in which the loop is formed from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid,

20. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable mechanism comprising means for forming a loop of the same size and at the same location in each succeeding one of the items in said stack which includes means movable first with a downward inclination to engage the uppermost item in the stack at a location spaced from one end of the item and then with a lesser inclination toward the other end of the item to displace said one end of said item in a loop forming direction and means insertable into each said loop to separate the said one end of the item in which the loop is formed from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.

21. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism comprising means engageable with the uppermost item in said stack at a location removed from one end of the item to fix said item against movement at said location, means movable first with a downward inclination to engage said uppermost item between said location and said one end of the item and then with a lesser inclination toward said location to form a loop of selected size in said item at said location, and means insertable into said loop to separate said one end of said item from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.

22. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism comprising a first means which is displaceable in each operating cycle of the counter mechanism to engage the top item in the stack of items being counted and form a loop in said item adjacent one end thereof and a second, rotatable means including a pickup means thereafter insertable into said loop as it rotates to displace said one end of said item and thereby effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted or the support means, said second means further including means operable as it rotates to effect the displacement of said first means to form said loop; and means for enumerating the number of ends separated as aforesaid.

23. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism including a first means engageable with the top item in the stack of items being counted to form a loop in said item adjacent one end thereof and a second means thereafter insertable into said loop to displace said end of said item and thereby effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted or the stack support means, said second means comprising a rotatably mounted member in which said second, loop displacing means is incorporated, said rotatably mounted member also having a wall portion adapted to rest on the item being counted in spaced relation to the location where the item is engaged by the first, loop forming means whereby the loop will be formed between said wall portion and said loop forming means and said rotatably mounted member will accordingly determine the location of said loop; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3, 711 015 Dated January 16, 1973 Robert D. Young Inventofls) It is certified that error agapea'rs in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 15 change *he to the Column 8, lines 43 and 44-, change "countering" to counting Signed and sealed this 20th day of November 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARDT LPLETCHERJR. RENE TEGTMEYER A'ttesting Ofiicei' Acting Commissioner Of Patents FORM PC40 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1959 0-356-334.

v INTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,711 ,015 Dated January 16, 1973 Patent No.

Robert D. Young Inventor(s) or appears in the above-identified patent It is certified that err orrected as shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are hereby 1:

Column 9, line 5, change 20" to 24 Signed and zealed this 7th day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable mechanism comprising cooperating first and second means both engageable with each succeeding item in said stack for forming a loop of the same size and at the same location in the topmost and each succeeding one of the items in said stack and means insertable into said loop to separate said one end of said item from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, together with means for adjusting the rate of operation of said cyclically operable mechanism.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, together with means automatically operable when the last item in the stack is counted to terminate the operation of said cyclically operable mechanism.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, together with a means which can be manually actuated to terminate the operation of said cyclically operable mechanism while stacks of items are being disposed on or removed from the means for supporting the stack of items to be counted.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, together with means for operating said cyclically operable mechanism comprising an electric motor and wherein the means for terminating the operation of the cyclically operable mechanism comprises a normally closed switch connected in series with said motor and a switch actuating means operable to open said switch and interrupt the supply of power to said motor.
 6. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof comprising a base; means thereon for supporting the stack of items to be counted; holddown means movable toward and away from said base for keeping the stack of items being counted on said supPorting means; a cyclically operable counter head for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like portion of the last item in the stack from said supporting means, said counter head being mounted on and movable toward and away from said base; drive means for said counter head; a register; means for advancing the count shown by said register in each operating cycle of said counter head; selectively operable means for displacing said holddown means and said counter head away from said base to thereby facilitate the removal of said stack of items from said supporting means; and means concomitantly activatable by the operation of said selectively operable means to interrupt the operation of the counter head drive means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said counter head drive means includes a clutch having an actuator pivotally fixed to said base and including means for pivotally supporting said holddown from said base and elevating it relative to said base and a member engageable with said counter head, said selectively operable means including a member pivotally fixed to said base, a first means carried by said last-mentioned member for pivoting the holddown supporting means and elevating the counter head engageable member to thereby displace said holddown means and said counter head away from said base, and a second means carried by said pivotally mounted member for so pivoting the clutch actuator as to effect disengagement of said clutch.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, together with means automatically operable after the last item in the stack is counted to pivot said clutch actuator as aforesaid and thereby effect the disengagement of the clutch.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said automatically operable means includes a member pivotally supported from said base and means operable in response to pivotal movement of said member to pivot said actuator and disengage the clutch, said counter head comprising means for engaging and pivoting said member to thereby effect disengagement of the clutch.
 10. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable, non-pneumatic counter head means for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like portion of the last item in the stack from said stack supporting means, one of said separations being effected in each operating cycle thereof; a register; means for advancing the count shown by said register in each operating cycle of said counter head means; a holddown means for keeping the stack of items being counted properly positioned on said supporting means; a manual actuator; and means operable as said actuator is displaced from a first position to a second position to displace said holddown means and said counter head means away from said supporting means and thereby facilitate the disposal of a stack of items on or the removal of a stack of items from said supporting means.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, together with means operable as said manual actuator is displaced from said first position to a position intermediate said first and second positions to terminate the operation of the counter head means without disturbing the position of the holddown means and the counter head means, whereby the operation of the counter head means can be stopped without reducing the holding effect exerted by said holddown means and said counter head means.
 12. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable, counter head means for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like portion of the last item in the stack from said stack supporting means, said counter head means including a non-rotatable support means; an extensible pusher means pivotally fixed at one end to said support means, there being means engageable with the item being coUnted at the other end of said pusher means; and rotatably mounted means including a cam member which is operable as said means rotates to pivot said pusher means relative to said support means to first engage said item engageable means with the item being counted and thereafter extend said pusher means to displace the engaged portion of the item and thereby form said loop, said rotatably mounted means further including a pickup means insertable into the loop formed by said pusher means to displace said end of said item and thereby effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, together with resilient biasing means for restoring said pusher means to an unextended configuration following the insertion of the pickup means in the loop.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, where said pusher means comprises a first member pivotally fixed to said support means; a second member pivotally fixed to said first member; a first means biasing said first member toward said support means; and a second means biasing said second member toward said first member.
 15. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism for separating like portions of succeeding items from said stack and the said like portion of the last item in the stack from said stack supporting means, said counter mechanism including a first means engageable with the top item in the stack of items being counted to form a loop in said item at a location spaced from one end thereof and a second means thereafter insertable into said loop to so displace said one end of said item as to effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted or said supporting means, said second means comprising a rotatable member and means mounting said rotatable member for rotation about a vertical axis, the rotatable member having an arcuate wall portion terminating in an end portion insertable in the loop formed in the item being counted and said arcuate wall portion tapering upwardly whereby, as said member rotates relative to the item being counted, said arcuate wall portion will displace the end of the item in which the loop is formed upwardly to separate said end as aforesaid; and means for enumerating the number of ends separated as aforesaid.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said arcuate wall portion has a lower edge engageable with the item in which the loop is being formed to fix said item against movement at said one end thereof, whereby the loops will be formed at the same location relative to said one end thereof in each succeeding one of said items.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said counter mechanism further includes a non-rotatable support means; wherein said first of said counter mechanism means comprises an extensible pusher means pivotally fixed at one end to said support means and means engageable with the item being counted at the other end of said pusher means; and wherein said counter mechanism also includes cam means operable as the rotatable member of said counter mechanism rotates to pivot said pusher means relative to said support means to first engage said item engageable means with the item being counted and to then extend said pusher means to displace the engaged portion of the item toward the location where said item is fixed against movement by said rotatable member and thereby form said loop.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, where said pusher means comprises a first member pivotally fixed to said support means; a second member pivotally fixed to said first member; a first means biasing said first member toward said support means; and a second means biasing said second member toward said first member, whereby, as it is extended, said pusher means will first move downwardly and toward said aforesaid location to engage said top item and tHen toward said location at a lesser inclination to thereby reduce the pressure exerted on said item by said item engageable means to thereby reduce the tendency of items below said top item to be moved toward said location with said top item.
 19. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism comprising means engageable with successive items in said stack at a location removed from one end of the stack to fix each said item against movement at said location, means for displacing said one end of each item so fixed against movement toward said location to thereby form a loop in the item, and means insertable into each said loop to separate said one end of the item in which the loop is formed from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.
 20. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable mechanism comprising means for forming a loop of the same size and at the same location in each succeeding one of the items in said stack which includes means movable first with a downward inclination to engage the uppermost item in the stack at a location spaced from one end of the item and then with a lesser inclination toward the other end of the item to displace said one end of said item in a loop forming direction and means insertable into each said loop to separate the said one end of the item in which the loop is formed from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.
 21. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism comprising means engageable with the uppermost item in said stack at a location removed from one end of the item to fix said item against movement at said location, means movable first with a downward inclination to engage said uppermost item between said location and said one end of the item and then with a lesser inclination toward said location to form a loop of selected size in said item at said location, and means insertable into said loop to separate said one end of said item from the like portion of the succeeding item or from the stack supporting means; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid.
 22. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism comprising a first means which is displaceable in each operating cycle of the counter mechanism to engage the top item in the stack of items being counted and form a loop in said item adjacent one end thereof and a second, rotatable means including a pickup means thereafter insertable into said loop as it rotates to displace said one end of said item and thereby effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted or the support means, said second means further including means operable as it rotates to effect the displacement of said first means to form said loop; and means for enumerating the number of ends separated as aforesaid.
 23. Apparatus for counting the number of items in a stack thereof, comprising: means for supporting the stack of items to be counted; a cyclically operable counter mechanism including a first means engageable with the top item in the stack of items being counted to form a loop in said item adjacent one end thereof and a second means thereafter insertable into said loop to displace said end of said item and thereby effect the separation of said end from the stack of items being counted or the stack support means, said second means comprising a rotatably mounTed member in which said second, loop displacing means is incorporated, said rotatably mounted member also having a wall portion adapted to rest on the item being counted in spaced relation to the location where the item is engaged by the first, loop forming means whereby the loop will be formed between said wall portion and said loop forming means and said rotatably mounted member will accordingly determine the location of said loop; and means for enumerating the number of said ends separated as aforesaid. 